Jubilee Offer: Patriotic Classics for £2.50 |
Frequently Bought Together
Product details
|
Listen to Samples and Buy MP3s
Songs from this album are available to purchase as MP3s. Click on "Buy MP3" or
view the MP3 Album.
|
Product Description
Französische Opernarien / Airs D'Operas Francais (CD Album) by Natalie Dessay, Choeur "Les Elements", Orchestre National, du Capitole de Toulouse, Michel Plasson - 12 tracks : 1. Massenet : Manon - Air du Cours la Reine : Suis-je gentille ainsi ? (2.52), 2. Gavotte : Obéissons quand leur voix appelle (2.59), 3. Fabliau : Rire toujours ? Vous vous trompez... (3.55), 4. Thomas : Mignon - Polonaise : Je suis Titania la blonde (5.59), 5. Massenet : Chérubin - Aubade : Vive amour qui rêve (4.12), 6. Boieldieu : La fête du village voisin - Boléro : Profitez de la vie 0 (2.30), 7. Offenbach : Robinson Crusoë - Grande valse : Conduisez-moi vers celui que j'adore (3.58), 8. Rossini : Le comte Ory En proie à la tristesse (9.59), 9. Donizetti : La fille du régiment C'en est donc fait... Salut à la France ! (8.33), 10. Gounod : Roméo et Juliette - Valse de Juliette : Ah ! Je veux vivre (3.35), 11. Thomas : Hamlet - Air de la folie : A vos jeux mes amis (13.34), 12. Mort d'Ophélie : Le voilà, je crois l'entendre (4.56)
Tags Customers Associate with This Product(What's this?)Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
|
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
Format:Audio CD
Natalie Dessay in this album continues to delight and astound us by her superb performance of French operatic arias. The apparent ease with which she executes
some of the most difficult and complex coloratura passages conceals the rigorous
background of training and discipline which is the foundation of her artistry. Her rendition of some of the seldom performed works of Massenet, Offenbach, Thomas, Boiseldieu and Rossini is a refreshing addition to the standard operatic
repertoire. I recommend this album without reservation to all who have not yet
become acquainted with this unmatchable virtuoso.
some of the most difficult and complex coloratura passages conceals the rigorous
background of training and discipline which is the foundation of her artistry. Her rendition of some of the seldom performed works of Massenet, Offenbach, Thomas, Boiseldieu and Rossini is a refreshing addition to the standard operatic
repertoire. I recommend this album without reservation to all who have not yet
become acquainted with this unmatchable virtuoso.
10 of 19 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
It's what I always say! Five star with this singer! Dessay has a superb voice! I discovered her a few years ago, when the National Radio was playing one of her older records. So intrigued was I by the quality of her voice that could not resist and call them up to ask the name of the singer. I had no idea who she was! I went and bought the record. I bought all her records. I'm always waiting for a new CD so I can listen to her art. Recently, I was in fear that no more Dessay would come to the market, so to speak! The problem in her vocal chords and the operation she had to undergo left me with the impression that it was the end! I was in Grenoble's airport, minding my own business, and bought a classical music magazine. Wonder of wonders, there she was! The front page! A big smile on her beautiful face and the news. I eagerly waited for the new CD and was first in queue LOL! I confess! I was nervous beyond reason until getting home! But then, all fears were swept away! The voice is unblemished! It's perfect! The ease with the high notes, the impression that it is so easy to sing like that (maybe I could do the same lol). Whenever I listen to her I'm dumbfounded. You can do it for hours. Sometimes staying in one aria over and over. She never gets boring. All the arias are superb, of course. An they can only benefit from a French singer. My point of view is that she is even better than before, but that usually happens to all singers when they move on with life. They know more, they act better, and are no longer children. Ms Dessay, for all that it's worth, has come out a winner in this business. She can only be a nice person. It shows in her voice. She must be, all in all, happy! Only that way can she be in peace of mind to phrase the melodic lines as she does. You will like this record. It's not like "here's my beautiful voice, listen to it going up and down!" This is music! I have one. It's mine. Get yours :-)!
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
12 reviews
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Salut à la France!
9 May 2004
Format:Audio CD
Natalie Dessay is a delight on this CD of arias from 19th century French Opera. The listener can experience a singer who is both concerned about the vocal and interpretative values of each selection of this recital. The first two tracks of the Cours de la Reine Scene from Massenet's 'Manon' show a fresh voice that portrays easily the youth and frivolity of the title character. All the stacattos, cadenzas and high notes are on the service of the character. It is delightful to find some rarities on this recital, like the Fabliau from 'Manon' (an alternative aria that Massenet composed for sustitution of the Gavotte) and the pieces from 'Chérubin', 'La fête du village voisin' and 'Robinson Crusoe'. On the selection by Offenbach, Dessay sings a stunning trill on a Dflat and then goes to expectacular scales, finishing the dazzling waltz with an elaborate cadenza and a firm high E. Another highlight of the CD is the elaborate aria from 'Le Comte Ory' by Rossini, where the soprano's attention to the nuances of the piece bring out a lively interpretation. The aria from 'La fille du régiment' makes us wish for a complete recording of the opera. However, the best part of the CD are the last two tracks. Dessay brings all her gifts to a climax with a marvelous performance of the Ophélie's Mad and Death Scenes from 'Hamlet' by Ambroise Thomas. This version of the Mad Scene is even better than her previous rendition on her last recital of French arias. This is a highly emotional interpretation where all the brilliant scales and cadenzas reflect the changing moods of Ophelie's madness and her despair as well as her innocence. This is the definitive performance of this music on records, period. The Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse and the Choeur 'Les Eléments', ably conducted by Michel Plasson, complement Dessay beautifully. In summary, another wonderful CD by one of the most remarkable coloratura sopranos of our time.
8 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Wonderful, but a minor quality control problem
1 April 2004
Format:Audio CD
Five stars for Natalie Dessay, who has an incredible instrument, and a great selection of arias. But I've listened to 4 copies of this disc and each had a very short "click" at 2:22 on track 2 (the Gavotte from Manon). Must be a quality control problem. Maybe it was just a bad batch.
Anyway, Dessay's voice is a force of nature; she must be one of the greatest coloraturas ever. I prefer her live version of Handel's "Tornami" from Alcina to Sutherland's. And she's incredible on Orphee Aux Enfers - not only a wonderful singer, but obviously a great actress and comedienne.
So, if you've not heard her before, give this album a try - ignore the "click" and listen to a truly angelic voice.
So 5 stars for Natalie Dessay and the selections, and a slap on the wrist for the record label and its quality control.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
WONDERFUL FRENCH ARIA RECITAL
10 Aug 2010
Format:Audio CD
There's much to recommend in Dessay's second French aria recital. The rare selections from Boieldieu and Offenbach are nice to hear, as is the gem of an aria from Cherubin that is getting a little more play on aria recitals. I'm also glad the postlude after Ophelia's mad scene is included - beautiful and haunting music with some wonderful pianissimos. It's unlikely Natalie will get to do a complete Hamlet audio recording, so it's welcome. All of the selections are performed in musical context with chorus, a nice plus. Other reviewers have noted the technical glitches - it's my summation they are the fault of conductor Plasson getting a little too "vocal" on the podium (shades of Bernstein or Toscanini?). In the past we had vinyl noise, tape hiss and analog distortions to hide such distractions - but no more. Videos of Dessay's recording sessions show that she likes to move and gesticulate a lot while recording (soprano Pettibon does this also). All that swishing around gets on the audio as well.
I'm a little surprised to hear the Juliette waltz sung in the conventional key rather than the high coloratura key. The conclusion of Manon's gavotte sounds clumsily coordinated between soloist and conductor. The lesser-known fablieau is good, but here, and in the Mignon Polonaise, lies one of Dessay's technical flaws, namely "lifting" into the stratospheric notes. Too many times the upper highs sound pushed, and this could spell problems for the future. My undertstanding she has taken on the lower-pitched Melisande on stage so perhaps her days as a leggiero are winding down and more lyrical roles are in the future. At any rate, a most enjoyable album and recommended.
I'm a little surprised to hear the Juliette waltz sung in the conventional key rather than the high coloratura key. The conclusion of Manon's gavotte sounds clumsily coordinated between soloist and conductor. The lesser-known fablieau is good, but here, and in the Mignon Polonaise, lies one of Dessay's technical flaws, namely "lifting" into the stratospheric notes. Too many times the upper highs sound pushed, and this could spell problems for the future. My undertstanding she has taken on the lower-pitched Melisande on stage so perhaps her days as a leggiero are winding down and more lyrical roles are in the future. At any rate, a most enjoyable album and recommended.
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
